Bruce J. Hillman, MD, began his radiology career as a resident at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham & Women’s Hospital) in Boston. His training included a research fellowship at the Peter Bent Brigham-Shields Warren Research Laboratory. At the University of Arizona, Dr Hillman served as section head of genitourinary radiology and vice-chair of radiology. At the University of Virginia, he served as chair of radiology, and is now the Theodore E. Keats professor of radiology and professor of health policy.
As a research scientist, Dr Hillman has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles, 34 book chapters, 4 books, and two defining works on the utilization of imaging by non-radiologists, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and The Journal of the American Medical Association. He is a highly sought-after speaker, with 300+ worldwide lectureships, of which 30 or more have been named, special, or keynote lectures. He has received 22 grants as principal investigator or co-investigator, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) $23 million UO-1 award that led to the founding of the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) in 1999. ACRIN, a consortium to generate, execute, and report on multicenter clinical trials in imaging as related to cancer, has accrued more than 76,000 participants to imaging clinical trials and published significant papers in high-impact journals. To date, the network, for which Dr Hillman is the principal investigator and chair, has received a staggering $192+ million in grant funding.
Through his contributions to numerous professional societies, Dr Hillman has earned the respect of colleagues at both national and international levels. He has served on numerous committees for the Association of University Radiologists (AUR), American College of Radiology (ACR), RSNA, Academy of Radiology Research (ARR), and a host of others. His leadership has become evident, serving as editor-in-chief of Investigative Radiology, Academic Radiology, and the Journal of the American College of Radiology. He has been president of the Virginia chapter of the ACR, served on the ACR Board of Chancellors for more than 10 years, and has been president of the Eastern Radiological Society, Society of Uroradiology, and AUR.
Dr Hillman developed or co-developed many radiology research, education and mentoring programs that are still functioning today. Among them, the RSNA/ARRS/AUR Introduction to Research Program, the Picker-AUR Young Faculty Academic Development Program, the General Electric-AUR Radiology Research Academic Fellowship (GERRAF), and the Alliance for Health Services Research in Radiology.
Dr Hillman has received 26 honors and awards, including ACR fellowship, the Society of Uroradiology Research Award, honorary membership in the Society of Computer Applications in Radiology, and the AUR gold medal. He was twice selected as one of the “20 Most Influential People in Radiology” by Diagnostic Imaging magazine, and was recently appointed to the National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Advisory Committee. Under his direction, ACRIN received the Distinguished Service Award for Scientific Leadership, presented by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
“I firmly believe that Dr Hillman is largely responsible for making contemporary clinical trial methodology an integral part of radiological research, addressing a major weakness in our field,” - R. Nick Bryan, MD, PhD, Eugene P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System
“Dr Hillman’s career epitomizes great dedication to both his own research and the development of better research in our specialty. His innovations, leadership and contributions to our field have enabled radiology to train more and better researchers and conduct more rigorous research than would otherwise be the case.” - Laurie L. Fajardo, MD, Chair of Radiology at the University of Iowa
“Based on the work that he has done in developing and nurturing ACRIN, I feel he is deserving of this outstanding award; however, he has the additional contributions of investigator in genitourinary radiology and health policy that make his career unique.” - Harvey L. Neiman, MD, ACR Executive Director